The American Revolution saw many battles across the eastern seaboard. While many are well known and documented, there are some that are less renowned. One such battle is the Battle of Charlotte.

Fought in September of 1780, the British army was marching north chasing the survivors from the Battle of Camden in South Carolina and were met with significant resistance when they approached Charlotte. A number of skirmishes were fought around the Queen city area, including one in the heart of modern day Charlotte, then a small settlement of approximately 20 houses.

A spirited and effective delaying action was taken against the British forces that included Tarleton's Dragoons, usually led by Banastre Tarleton. Ban Tarleton, however, was sick with yellow fever and command of the Dragoons had been assigned by General Cornwallis to Tarletons' subordinate, Major George Hanger.

The patriots fended off three cavalry charges from the British army as well as engaging the British light infantry for a short period, but eventually Hanger made progress and the patriots had to retreat north up the Salisbury Road. One small band of patriots, led by Lt. George Locke - son of Brigadier General Matthew Locke - were detailed as a rear guard and effectively harassed the British forces to allow the main body of patriots to retreat.

During this rear-guard action, the patriots formed on the hill above the area where Sugar Creek Church now stands. There, owing to the imprudent but honest zeal of Major White, they were detained too long, for by the time they had reached the cross-roads a party of British dragoons were in sight, and, after close pursuit for nearly two miles, overtook them. It was at this time that Lieut. George Locke and four other men were killed.

As an interesting note, the Memorial to Lieutenant George Locke located here has his rank listed incorrectly as Lt. Colonel.

To claim credit for this cache, list the date in September 1780 on which Lt. Locke was killed in the password section of you log.

DudleyGrunt and I came down to North Carolina to seek some OCNA caches. They are many, many OCNA caches in the Charlotte area and we wanted to seek them during the current contest going on the OCNA site.